Trace looked up as Mio entered the bakery with a swish of fabric. Despite the hot weather, she stood in a black dress that reached her knees, her hair hanging down over her shoulders. Mio glanced around the dark interior of the bakery with a hopeful squint for a moment, only to give a disappointed sigh and step further into the bakery. She sat at the counter with a displeased quirk to her painted lips, and Trace raised his eyebrows at her.

“What’ll it be, storm cloud?” Despite the little jab, Trace’s voice was warm and affectionate as he greeted his old friend.

“I’m guessing that Wren is with Kaide, yeah?” Mio leaned over the counter a little, trying to peer into the office.

Trace’s mood soured with hers. “Yeah. Kid’s been fuckin’ distraught. Saying shit like no one’s ever going to love him, no one should ever love him. ..He’s usually so happy. It’s fucked, seeing him like this.” He sighed, flicking a stray crumb off the counter. Mio sighed, shaking her head. It was such a shame. Kaide and Molly had been together for so long, only for this to happen, and on his birthday, no less. Trace stole her attention back. “Is Wren why you’re dressed like that?”

Mio blinked, turning a little pink at Trace’s insinuation. He broke into his classic, almost predatory grin, and leaned on the counter a little. Mio quickly drew her face into a little glare and smacked his arm, making him laugh, drawing back and rubbing the spot where she hit.

“No, I’m not dressed up for Wren. ..Someone else usually stops by at this time, and I didn’t want them to see me looking like a mess if they did pop in.”

“Oooh.” Trace’s eyes strayed toward the clock. “Ruby. You’ve got a thing for Ruby.”

Mio only turned a brighter shade of pink. “I don’t have a thing for Ruby! I don’t

have a thing for anyone. Ruby is just really good at fashion, and I didn’t want them to think I’m an idiot or something!” Mio smoothed down her dress self consciously, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

Trace eyed Mio’s blush for a moment longer, then smiled, rolling his eyes. He reached out, the edge of his apron in hand, and gently smudged away some oil paint that was clinging to her cheek. Mio blinked, touching her cheek where he’d wiped the paint away, looking quietly mortified.

“You wouldn’t look like an idiot, no matter how you dressed, Mio. Maybe you would if you kept getting paint on your face. What, working long hours or something? Maybe that’s what kept you from Kaide’s very special and important birthday party.”

Trace’s gaze hardened to a glare, chastising her, and Mio shot one back, only to sigh and look down. “No… I wasn’t working. I had my own shit going on.”

“It better have been very extra special and important.”

“My parents had another kid.”

“Oh,” Trace said, then softer, “oh.”

Mio sighed, rubbing her hands over her face, careful to avoid her eye makeup. “Yeah. They surrendered me at birth because the hospital knew they were fucked and couldn’t take care of me, but they had another kid almost a decade ago, they kept it secret. They thought they could handle having a kid, and, surprise, they couldn’t. I guess someone found out about it and had the kid taken away a few years ago, and I got to meet them on Sunday.”

“What’s their name..?” Trace asked, leaning on the counter again, but instead to look at Mio with a soft, concerned gaze.

“Maverick. At least, that’s what they call themself, so…”

“How did it go?”